On Good Authority
4 November 2026
Hi there,
Welcome to the latest edition of On Good Authority which includes the United Nations' take on the task ahead to reduce emissions enough to bring down global warming, new clean records for Australia’s electricity grid and some good news about 12 energy projects securing investment.
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Authority news
Faster progress to cleaner industries was the topic of a recent presentation by one of our members Gretta Stephens. Gretta gave a speech at a heavy industry conference in Adelaide, highlighting the industry's role in meeting Australia's climate goals. She also spoke on the opportunities to attract investment, develop low-emissions industries and strengthen Australia's competitiveness in a clean economy.
The Australian Climate Councils Network (ACCN) has published a joint opinion piece in Renew Economy on the implications of crossing 1.5°C of global warming and the need for urgent action. The article follows the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) recent report on limiting the overshoot. It reflects a commitment made by ACCN chairs at their annual gathering in Sydney in September to elevate discussion of this important issue.
The ACCN is the first subnational network of climate councils in the world. As a voluntary collaboration of Australia’s state, territory and Commonwealth climate councils and advisory bodies, it aims to strengthen collaboration on evidence-based climate policy and communication.
Source: Global Citizen Now - 19 October 2026
Fast fact
$9 billion
The amount Australia’s extra diesel imports cost from March to August, the largest of any country.
Source: Climate Council Crude awakening: How Australia ranks on fuel security
Myth buster
Did you know that the Bureau of Meteorology has digitised handwritten data points of pre-1946 temperatures to build a long-term Australian temperature record that’s freely available to all?
Read the Bureau’s statement about the rigour and integrity behind its work in response to recent claims of ‘manual data manipulation’.
News in brief
1.5°C still within reach, says UN
A new UNEP report says the world is not on track to meet its climate goals, with current policies putting global warming on course to reach 2.8°C this century. The report says global greenhouse gas emissions need to fall by 18% by 2030 and 45% by 2035, compared to 2025 levels, to bring temperatures back towards 1.5°C. While renewable energy has grown rapidly, emissions remain high because fossil fuel use has not fallen fast enough. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that even if temperatures temporarily rise above 1.5°C, the goal is still achievable if countries take stronger action now. He said, ‘Overshoot is not surrender’, and that rapid emissions cuts can still bring global temperatures back below 1.5°C by the end of the century.
First project approved under new forest carbon method
The Clean Energy Regulator has registered the first project under a new Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) method that rewards protecting native forests. The improved Native Forest Management (INFM) method allows land managers to earn carbon credits by stopping timber harvesting in eligible protected areas. The method was proposed by the New South Wales Government and developed through the ACCU Scheme’s proponent-led method development process. The registration of the first project marks an important milestone for the new method. It follows the Authority’s fifth review of the ACCU Scheme, which recommended the Government publish a forward roadmap for developing and reviewing carbon credit methods.
Renewables hit new highs across grid
Australia’s energy shift continues to gather pace, with renewable energy setting new records in the National Electricity Market (NEM), according to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) data. Highlights include:
44.3% of energy was generated by renewables in the NEM in the third quarter of 2026, up from 41.8% a year earlier.
record 80.4% renewables supplied during a half-hour period on 19 September, beating its last record of 78.6% set in 2025.
record low operational demand of 9,422 MW on 20 September, mainly caused by higher distributed solar output and milder weather conditions.
Average distributed solar generation reached an unprecedented 3,203 MW in Q3 2026.
Energy shifted by grid-scale batteries tripled compared to the same period last year.
The report also noted that battery discharge overtook gas for the first time during the evening peak. Wholesale electricity prices also fell across all NEM jurisdictions.
2026 clean energy projects already ahead of 2025
Australia's renewable energy transition continued to gather pace in the first half of 2026, according to the Clean Energy Council's latest investment report. Twelve renewable energy projects secured the investment needed to proceed, adding 2.6 GW of new generation capacity and 9 large-scale batteries. More renewable energy projects moved ahead, and more battery storage was commissioned, in the first 6 months of 2026 than during all of 2025. Several of these projects were supported through the Government’s Capacity Investment Scheme.
Australia’s largest pumped hydro project will cost more and take longer
The cost to complete the Snowy 2.0 project has risen to an estimated $22.2–25 billion, $20-$23 billion more than first estimated. A recent reassessment also found that it is now expected to be completed by 2029. Despite the higher costs and delays, construction is well advanced, with 65% of tunnelling and 90% cavern excavation completed. Once operating, Snowy 2.0 will act as a giant rechargeable battery, storing renewable energy and helping to transition the national electricity grid away from ageing coal plants. It is expected to operate for 150 years.
The Authority highlighted the importance of pumped hydro in its 2025 report Unlocking Australia’s clean energy potential, noting that this type of storage can help provide reliable electricity and support growing levels of renewable electricity supply.
AI, geopolitics and grid constraints reshape the energy outlook
Global investment in power grids is expected to rise by 21% this year from the previous year, the largest annual growth of any energy sector, according to a McKinsey report. The Global Energy Perspective 2026 report finds growing energy demand, rising electricity use from artificial intelligence, and geopolitical tensions are adding pressure on the global energy system. Electricity networks are a key constraint on the energy shift and stronger grid infrastructure will be critical to meeting future energy demand and supporting decarbonisation.
New Developer Rating Scheme to boost community confidence
Communities hosting renewable energy and transmission projects can now access independent ratings of project developers under the new Developer Rating Scheme (DRS). The voluntary scheme, operated by Equifax, assesses companies on areas like community engagement, governance and business conduct, with participating companies receiving a public rating. The DRS aims to give communities better transparency and confidence about companies proposing energy infrastructure developments in their area. It also gives companies an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to good engagement practices and build community trust from the earliest stages of project development. Participation in the DRS is now also linked to eligibility for Capacity Investment Scheme support, creating an incentive for developers to demonstrate strong engagement and business practices.
Community trust and acceptance is critical to the success of the net zero transition, as highlighted extensively in the Authority’s 2025 Annual Progress Report.
Slow, steady and electric: how automation could transform long-haul trucking
Autonomous trucks could make electric long-haul freight viable far sooner than expected. Modelled on Australia’s busiest freight corridor, new research has found driverless trucks can travel at slower, more energy-efficient speeds and stay on the road for longer. Slower speeds mean trucks can use smaller, cheaper batteries and make fewer charging stops, while also carrying more freight, making electric trucks more competitive with diesel. The findings suggest autonomy and electrification could work hand-in-hand to cut emissions from one of the hardest-to-decarbonise transport sectors.
Key milestone reached for sustainable finance peak body
Australia’s sustainable finance sector has come a long way in the past 5 years, according to Australian Sustainable Finance Institute’s (ASFI) first impact report. ASFI says tools that were not in place in 2021, including mandatory climate disclosures, government-backed green bond programs and an Australian sustainable finance taxonomy, are now helping guide investment decisions. Since its establishment in 2021, ASFI has contributed to 179 outcomes, including initiatives that support climate mitigation and growing sustainable finance capability across the finance sector and government. Earlier this month, ASFI highlighted the potential for the Australian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy to attract more investment in climate adaptation and resilience projects, helping communities and businesses respond to the impacts of climate change.
Our feature this week
Source: © Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia) 2026
Satellites are getting better at detecting methane emissions
Satellite technology is becoming a more effective way to detect large methane emissions sources, according to recent American and Australian research. However, accurately quantifying those emissions remains challenging.
A new American study published in Nature provides some of the strongest evidence yet that large, concentrated methane sources can be detected effectively from space. The study involved the largest blind test of satellite methane detection conducted to date. With 15 analysis teams from 9 countries, researchers tested 12 satellite systems using hundreds of controlled methane releases and non-release events over a year in Arizona. Participants had to identify methane emissions and estimate their size without knowing when releases had happened.
The strongest results came from satellites designed specifically to detect methane. These purpose-built systems successfully identified between 92% to 100% of methane releases with very few false alarms. False positive rates ranged from 0–11% and were mostly from artificial intelligence (AI) based methods. Although most false positives occurred when AI methods were used to analyse data from non-specialised satellites.
However, detecting an emission source is not the same as measuring how much is emitted. While the study found satellites are getting better at estimating the quantities of methane emissions it also showed notable errors. Across all reported estimates, the median absolute error was 37%, suggesting satellite technology is currently more reliable for spotting releases than quantifying them.
The authors cautioned that real-world performance may not always match the results achieved in the trial. Testing took place under generally favourable conditions, including strong sunlight, low cloud cover and known source locations. Operational monitoring programs often face more complex challenges, including larger search areas, variable weather and uncertain source locations. Despite these limitations, the study found that satellite-based methane monitoring has matured into a practical tool for identifying, and potentially, measuring large emissions sources.
The American study comes as an Australian expert panel released its interim report on atmospheric methane measurement. The panel was established following a recommendation from the Authority’s 2023 review of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme. The panel's report identified satellites as one of the several valuable top down (atmospheric) approaches. However, it cautioned that satellite observations are most effective when combined with other measurement methods and analysis.
The Authority has been exploring opportunities to reduce methane emissions from fossil fuels. In our consultation paper, we highlighted this as one of Australia's most significant near-term abatement opportunities. As technologies for detecting methane continue to improve, they could play an increasingly important role in identifying sources, improving transparency and supporting methane reduction efforts.
The growing capability of satellite monitoring is already attracting attention internationally. Recent reporting highlighted how satellite observations used by the UNEP detected significant methane clouds near Chevron's Gorgon facility in Western Australia, demonstrating the technology’s ability to identify emissions that might otherwise go unnoticed.
As satellite systems continue to improve, they are likely to play an increasingly important role in emissions monitoring, regulatory oversight and efforts to better understand methane's contribution to climate change.
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Acknowledgement of Country
The Authority recognises the First Nations people of this land and their ongoing connection to culture and Country. We acknowledge First Nations people as the Traditional Owners, Custodians and Lore Keepers of the world's oldest living cultures, and pay our respects to their Elders—past and present.
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